Skip to main content

SPB Sermons || The Way of Love || 1 John 4:7-21

The Way of Love | 1 John 4:7-21

The Way of Love

On Sunday, 5th January 2025, Rev. Andrew Irwin preached a powerful sermon titled "The Way of Love," drawing from 1 John 4:7-21. This passage is a profound reminder of God’s deep, sacrificial love for us and how that love compels us to love one another. Andrew opened the sermon by reflecting on the new year as an opportunity to consider our call as disciples and our purpose as a church family.

Love is a word we often hear but seldom grasp fully. In today’s world, love can be shallow, reduced to fleeting feelings or personal gratification. But 1 John 4 reveals the depth and reality of God’s love—a love that is present, committed, transformative, and sacrificial. Rev. Irwin emphasized that God’s love is not merely an internal sentiment but an active, tangible reality displayed most profoundly in the person of Jesus Christ.

God’s love is foundational to our faith. As Andrew pointed out, "We love because He first loved us." This truth reshapes our understanding of love and calls us to action. Within the church, we are called to love one another as a family, serving each other with generosity, hospitality, and prayer. But this love doesn’t stop at our doors—it must overflow into the world around us. The love we’ve received from God compels us to demonstrate His love in our communities through practical acts of service and a commitment to sharing the gospel.

The sermon concluded with a simple yet profound challenge for the year ahead: to love God, love one another, and love our city. As Rev. Irwin reminded us, this love is not about perfection but about being moved by the Spirit to reflect God’s love in every aspect of our lives. This is the way of love, and it is the way of Jesus.

Whether you’re hearing about God’s love for the first time or seeking to deepen your faith, this message will inspire and challenge you to live out love in practical, transformative ways. We invite you to listen to the full sermon and reflect on how God’s love can shape your year ahead.

Listen to the Sermon

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SPB Sermons || Sent Like the Son || JOhn 20:19-23

Sent Like the Son – Family Worship at SPB Belfast (Sunday 27th April 2025) On the evening of Easter Sunday, as fear gripped the disciples behind locked doors, Jesus appeared among them and spoke the words they most needed to hear: "Peace be with you." At St Paul’s & St Barnabas this Sunday, we reflected on John 20:19-31 and the incredible transformation that the resurrection brings — not just to history, but to our hearts and lives today. We joined the disciples in their fear and doubt, seeing how even the testimony of Mary Magdalene couldn’t unlock their fear. Yet no locked door could keep out the risen Christ. Jesus appeared, scars and all, speaking peace into their brokenness. His scars weren't signs of defeat, but emblems of the victory won at the Cross — a reminder that by His wounds, we are healed. Jesus did not come to rebuke His followers, but to comfort them with His presence, speak peace into their hearts, and to co...

This Is the Hour – Join Us for Holy Week 2025 at St Paul’s & St Barnabas

This Is the Hour – Join Us for Holy Week 2025 at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast As we journey toward Easter this year at St Paul’s & St Barnabas in North Belfast, we invite you to take part in our Holy Week services under the theme “This Is the Hour.” This powerful phrase comes from John’s Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the appointed time—the hour—for which He came into the world. From Gethsemane to glory, Jesus moves with divine purpose toward the cross and the empty tomb. We are invited to walk with Him in that hour: to sit in the sorrow of betrayal, to receive the grace of service, to stand at the foot of the cross, and to rejoice at the dawn of resurrection. Our Holy Week reflections will follow the Gospel of John, focusing each evening on a key moment in Jesus’ journey. All services begin at 7:30 pm , and we warmly welcome you to come just as you are. Tuesday 15th April – 6:30pm Easter Community Prayer Walk Meeting at Salv...

SPB Sermons || The King Has Come || Palm Sunday || Luke 19:28-40

The King Has Come – Palm Sunday at SPB The King Has Come – Palm Sunday at SPB On Palm Sunday, we stepped into Luke 19:28–40 and into the streets of a city full of noise, tension, and expectation. It was Jerusalem then — it is Belfast now. In his sermon, Rev. Andrew Irwin reminded us that the King we proclaim is not the kind we expect. He doesn’t ride in with fanfare or force but with humility, peace, and purpose. The city of Jerusalem was packed to the brim. The great Passover celebration was at hand, and the people of God were remembering a story of freedom and rescue while still living under Roman occupation. The air was thick with anticipation. Into that atmosphere, Jesus rides — on a donkey. Not a war horse. Not with soldiers. But with disciples and borrowed cloaks. As the crowd shouts praise and throws their coats on the road, we’re reminded that they had the right words — “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” —...